No better place to celebrate ice cream month than Scoop Shoppe in Maltby

MALTBY — Not that I ever needed to be told when to eat ice cream, but July is National Ice Cream Month. You can thank President Ronald Reagan, who signed the honor into law in 1984. Reagan decreed the month and National Ice Cream Day, July 14, be marked with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”So maybe on the 30th anniversary of the proclamation, we need something a bit more “appropriate” than a soft-serve cone at the nearest burger joint.We’ll oblige the Gipper at Snoqualmie Ice Cream’s Scoop Shoppe, maybe with a Blackberry Pie Signature Sundae.You’ve likely seen Snoqualmie’s pints in your grocer’s freezer, next to the Häagen-Dazs and the Ben & Jerry’s, with the friendly farm scene and some fairly eclectic flavors, including Mukilteo Mudd, Cascade Mountain Blackberry, Bold Espresso, French Lavender, Ginger and Green Tea, among the 20 or so regular and seasonal ice creams, sorbets, custards and gelatos.This is quality stuff, rivaling the national premium brands and using, as often as possible, locally sourced dairy products and fruits.That boldness to experiment with flavors is carried even further at the Scoop Shoppe with its milkshakes, floats, sundaes and parfaits, some of which are specifically tailored to adults looking for a shot of something stronger.Among the shop’s Signature Sundaes ($7) are Blackberry Pie with the mountain blackberry ice cream, graham cracker crumbles, a house-made blackberry drizzle and whipped cream; a Cold Coconut Affogato with Toasted Coconut ice cream drenched with cold-brewed coffee, espresso flakes, house-made fudge, shredded coconut and whipped cream; and the Lavender Lemon Shortbread with French Lavender ice cream, house-made lemon shortbread, lemon drizzle and whipped cream.My wife and mother-in-law thought the coffee was a bit bitter in the affogato but still liked the coconut ice cream. But I was going for bitter when I ordered the Stout Float ($6), Danish Vanilla ice cream awash in an oatmeal stout from Bellevue Brewing Co. No, you don’t want to try this with a can of Bud and a scoop of Neapolitan, but a hoppy stout pairs excellently with vanilla ice cream. There’s a traditional root beer float, too.The Bellevue stout and red and white wines from Columbia Winery as well as other spirits are used in floats ($6-$7) and Boozy Shakes ($10), including a white wine float made with Raspberry Pomegranate sorbet; a red wine float with Mukilteo Mudd; a Moscow Mule with ginger ice cream, vodka, lime juice and ginger beer; a shake with Salted Caramel and Mukilteo Mudd ice creams, bourbon, fudge and whipped cream; and a shake with Honey Cinnamon custard, whiskey, honey and whipped cream served in a glass with cinnamon sugar rim.Hold on; I’ve given myself a sugar rush.The Scoop Shoppe also offers a few savory lunch items, including flatbread sandwiches ($8) with zucchini and goat cheese, sausage and mushroom or chicken and artichoke hearts. For my order, sausage crumbles, mushroom slices and sauteed red onions were served atop a generous piece of crisp flat bread. You can also order salad bowls ($8). The Classic has a jumble of quinoa, spinach, chicken, goat cheese, zucchini and caramelized onions with vinaigrette, while the Greek serves quinoa, spring mix, chicken, artichoke hearts, olives, feta cheese and vinaigrette. Wife and MIL both enjoyed the Greek, though noted the artichoke hearts were missing.A selection of coffee, espresso, beer, wine and bottled drinks are available. And pints of Snoqualmie also are available for sale.Service was friendly and efficient, although a little taxed by steady business on a sunny Sunday afternoon. And the coffeehouse-like inside seating area can get noisy, especially when a crowd is jostling to pick out ice cream.Fortunately, Reagan picked July for National Ice Cream Month. During the pleasant weather, Snoqualmie offers quieter tables on its patio and invites visitors to stroll the grounds of its farm. And you don’t have to worry about the drips running off your fingers.Snoqualmie Ice Cream Scoop Shoppe21106 86th Ave. SE, Snohomish; 360-668-2912; www.snoqualmieicecream.com/Specialty: Ice cream treats for adults and kidsHours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.Alcohol: Limited selection of wine and beerSummer Sounds on The FarmSnoqualmie Ice Cream and the Everett Music Initiative are hosting a music festival 5 to 10 p.m. July 12 at the Scoop Shoppe’s farm. The concert is scheduled to feature the Cave Singers, Lonesome Shack, Shannon Stephens and Each & All.The all-ages event will include lawn games for children, a beer garden and Snoqualmie Ice Cream.Adult tickets are $15 advance or $20 at the gate, youth tickets (12-20 years old) are $10 and children under 12 are admitted free. Get tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/734086.

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